Smith by Smith v. Lefrak Organization, Inc.

Decision Date08 August 1983
Citation96 A.D.2d 859,465 N.Y.S.2d 777
PartiesKim Athena SMITH, an infant, by Claude J. SMITH, etc., et al., Respondents, v. LEFRAK ORGANIZATION, INC., et al., Appellants.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Smith, Mazure, Director & Wilkins, New York City (Lewis I. Wolf, New York City, of counsel), for appellants.

Sydney J. Chase, Mineola, for respondents.

Before TITONE, J.P., and GULOTTA, WEINSTEIN and BRACKEN, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.

In a negligence action to recover damages for personal injuries, etc., defendants appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, entered August 22, 1982, which denied their motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiffs' complaint for failure to comply with a conditional order of preclusion, dated February 24, 1982.

Order reversed, on the law, with costs, and defendants' motion for summary judgment granted.

Defendants demanded a bill of particulars. When plaintiffs did not respond to their demand, defendants moved for an order of preclusion, which Special Term granted conditionally, by order dated February 24, 1982. The order was to take effect unless plaintiffs served the bill of particulars within 30 days after service of a copy of the order upon the attorney for the plaintiffs.

On March 1, 1982 a copy of the order with notice of entry was served upon plaintiffs' attorney by mail. On June 8, 1982 plaintiffs served their bill of particulars, in excess of two months after the expiration of the period in which to comply with the condition specified in the order of preclusion. Defendants returned plaintiffs' bill of particulars as untimely and, thereafter, moved for summary judgment, dismissing the complaint on the ground that plaintiffs were precluded from proving their case.

Special Term denied the motion, holding that plaintiffs' bill was timely served because defendants had failed to establish service of the February 24, 1982 order. However, defendants included among their supporting papers an affidavit of service by mail. Service of the order is deemed complete upon mailing, regardless of whether or not the party for whom it is intended receives it (see Barton v. La Pointe, 67 A.D.2d 760, 412 N.Y.S.2d 463). The preclusion order had therefore taken effect and plaintiffs were bound to demonstrate an excusable default and the existence of a meritorious claim (see Ferrigno v. St. Charles Hosp., 86 A.D.2d 594, 446 N.Y.S.2d 130; Harris v. Brooklyn Hosp. at Brooklyn...

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16 cases
  • Platovsky v. Bernstein
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court
    • November 21, 2022
    ...or defense (Gibbs at 80; Marrone at 371; Macancela v Pekurar, 286 A.D.2d 320, 321 [2d Dept 2001]; Smith by Smith v Lefrak Org., Inc., 96 A.D.2d 859, 860 [2d Dept 1983], affd sub nom. Smith v Lefrak Org., Inc., 60 N.Y.2d 828 [1983]). Here, while it is true that a self-executing conditional o......
  • Williams v. Suttle, 2016–10118
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • January 9, 2019
    ...; Kirkland v. Fayne, 78 A.D.3d 660, 661, 915 N.Y.S.2d 270 ; Lerner v. Ayervais, 16 A.D.3d 382, 790 N.Y.S.2d 607 ; Smith v. Lefrak Org., 96 A.D.2d 859, 465 N.Y.S.2d 777, affd 60 N.Y.2d 828, 469 N.Y.S.2d 693, 457 N.E.2d 799 ). The plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a reasonable excuse for their......
  • Tewari v. Tsoutsouras
    • United States
    • New York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
    • October 24, 1989
    ...A.D.2d 896, 472 N.Y.S.2d 491, affd for reasons stated below 62 N.Y.2d 1018, 479 N.Y.S.2d 518, 468 N.E.2d 700, supra; Smith v. Lefrak Org., 96 A.D.2d 859, 465 N.Y.S.2d 777, affd for reasons stated below 60 N.Y.2d 828, 469 N.Y.S.2d 693, 457 N.E.2d Contrary to the conclusion of the Appellate D......
  • Gibbs v. St. Barnabas Hosp.
    • United States
    • New York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
    • December 16, 2010
    ...the existence of a meritorious claim or defense ( see id. at 1000-1001, 489 N.Y.S.2d 47, 478 N.E.2d 188; see also Smith v. Lefrak Org., 96 A.D.2d 859, 465 N.Y.S.2d 777 [2d Dept.1983], affd. for reasons stated 60 N.Y.2d 828, 469 N.Y.S.2d 693, 457 N.E.2d 799 [1983]; Amodeo v. Radler, 89 A.D.2......
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1 books & journal articles
  • CPLR 3126 conditional orders requiring disclosure "can't get no respect".
    • United States
    • Albany Law Review Vol. 73 No. 3, March 2010
    • March 22, 2010
    ...Hosp. Med. Ctr., 62 N.Y.2d 1014, 1016, 468 N.E.2d 675, 675-76, 479 N.Y.S.2d 493, 493-94 (1984). (128) Smith v. Lefrak Org. (Smith 1), 96 A.D.2d 859, 859, 465 N.Y.S.2d 777, 777 (App. Div. 2d Dep't 1983), aff'd, 60 N.Y.2d 828, 457 N.E.2d 799, 469 N.Y.S.2d 693 (1983). The Second Department did......

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